When global construction powerhouse Skanska needed help with a lighting control mystery in the heart of Paddington, they turned to Powercor. Known for delivering large-scale infrastructure and commercial projects, Skanska were managing a flagship building at One Kingdom Street — a sleek, modern property packed with LED lighting and other technology, but lacking the expertise to support it.
The building, spanning nine floors of tenant communal spaces, a full reception, and two basement levels, was equipped with a Philips Dynalite lighting control system. But the problem? No one on-site could decode the complex infrastructure. Without proper oversight, faults were piling up, and building users were feeling the effects.
At this point, Skanska asked Powercor to step in and help solve the challenges that were occuring.
Lighting logic, decoded
We began with a full site survey. Our lighting and controls team investigated the current system, mapped out problem areas, and identified quick wins and long-term opportunities. It was clear the building needed proactive maintenance, not just reactive fixes. To do this, we partnered with Skanska and agreed a two-year lighting controls maintenance plan, including quarterly site visits. By creating this framework, issues would be resolved before they became problems, and tenants wouldn’t be left in the dark — literally.
From “never worked” to good as new
Before our first visit, Skanska flagged a recurring fault with the solenoid valve in the B1 toilets. The valve had been replaced twice, but the issue kept coming back. On inspection, we found the valve was fine — the real issue lay in the Dynalite programming. It was set to respond only to occupancy in the female toilets. When those lights switched off, the valve closed — cutting water to the entire toilet block. A simple programming fix brought everything back online.
Then there was the mysterious staircase that hadn’t worked “for years.” One faulty channel and outdated programming were all it took to derail the system. After rewiring and reprogramming, we restored the full staircase functionality, much to the relief of the on-site team.
The team are experts on the Dynalite system software and used this to determine and correct errors:
A partnership built on insight
Thanks to regular, knowledgeable support, Skanska can now rely on a stable, well-managed lighting system that works as intended. By addressing both the technical and strategic layers of lighting control, Powercor has ensured the building’s energy efficiency and user experience are fully optimised.
This isn’t just maintenance — it’s intelligent asset management.
We were very pleased to support on this project and the client provided very positive feedback:
“After the initial survey carried out by Jake and Aidan from Powercor, we knew this was a company with a can-do attitude that we could trust to look after our building. Now that the maintenance is set up, we have already seen vast improvements with the lighting control functionality on site. Whenever we need support, they are a phone call away and nothing is too much trouble. We would highly recommend Powercor.”
Wesley Barmby – Engineering Manager- Skanska
